Al-Shabab
militants, a Islamic extremist group connected to Al-Qaida, attacked a hotel in
the capital of Somalia. 10 people are
believed to be dead including the Somali ambassador to Switzerland. A suicide bomber started that attack
as he detonated explosives outside the gate to the Al-Mukarramah
hotel. Following the explosion at least 4 gunman rushing into the hotel killing
whoever they came across. It is believed
that there were 9 attackers in total with at least 6 of them killed in fights
with Somali forces. Some of those in the hotel jumped out of windows to get
away from the gunman. The Al-Mukarramah
hotel is popular among government officials in Somalia which made it a prime
target. The capital of Somalia is frequently attacked by Al-Shabab because it
is backed by the west politically.
Al-Shabab targets government officials and foreigners because the
imposed government is supported by the west.
Al-Shabab used to control much of Mogadishu (Somali capital) but was
pushed out in 2011 in major part due to the African Union forces. In 2013 Al-Shabab killed 67 people in a mall
attack in Kenya. Al-Shabab attacks in the East African region in a fight
against the UN and African Union forces. Al-Shabab’s intent is mainly against
the Somali Federal Government and the African Union in Somalia. Al-Shabab is opportunist like most other
terrorist groups in that it attacks weak government structure. It is not clear what their main goal is like
with the Islamic State who wanted to be the face of the Iraq region. It seems
to be more about keeping the United Nations and other western countries from
having influence on Somalia.
Christopher Eakes
March 27, 2015
4:07 PM
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